LIVING the Dementia Journey (LDJ)
Delivered virtually, in-person or by your external facilitator
Backfill reimbursement for all session types
All team member roles welcome
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LIVING the Dementia Journey (LDJ) is an award-winning, evidence-informed training program for those who support people living with dementia. Participants gain awareness and understanding that changes not only the way they view dementia but the way they support people living with it.
Refreshed in 2025, our new and improved course highlights how to offer more inclusive and culturally safe care, incorporating the latest research to help care partners provide even better support. The new LDJ better reflects lived experiences and evolving dementia care needs, adds considerations around equity, diversity, and inclusion, and more accurately represents the diverse voices of people living with dementia.
Outcomes
By the end of this course, participants will be able to:
- Gain a deeper understanding of dementia and a new perspective on the experience of living with it.
- Understand how to apply a person-centred approach to provide individualized care and support.
- Enhance their relationship-building skills by learning about the seven domains of well-being.
- Review strategies for recognizing, interpreting, and responding to personal expressions (behaviours).
- Learn practical ways to address boredom, loneliness, and helplessness by creating opportunities for meaning, purpose, and growth.
Delivery Format
Duration: 8 hours
- Virtual Sessions
- Delivery: Zoom
- Best for: Individual team members, small LTC homes
- 1-2 sessions offered weekly (Mon – Fri, 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.)
- In-Person Sessions
- Delivery: In-person at your LTC home
- Best for: Homes with groups of team members interested in training
- Facilitators and catered lunch provided. Flexible start-times.
- In-Home Training
- Delivery: In-person at your LTC home
- Best for: Large organizations or homes with groups of team members interested in training
- Delivered by your certified LDJ trainer within your home.
Please note that backfill reimbursement is available for all three delivery formats. For virtual and in-person sessions, attendance is tracked by our facilitators and no action is required to arrange backfill. For in-home sessions delivered by certified LDJ trainers, please complete the LDJ Workshop Attendance Survey following the training to ensure you receive backfill funding. Please visit our Backfill Funding page for more information.
Enroll my LTC home in LDJ training
LDJ Train the Trainer
LDJ Train the Trainer is a separate, 9-hour training course that gives participants the tools to deliver the LIVING the Dementia Journey program within their organization. It is ideal for homes and organizations that provide ongoing education and training opportunities to their teams. The LDJ workshop is a prerequisite for Train-the-Trainer.
Please note that LDJ Train the Trainer is offered through the Schlegel-UW Research Institute for Aging (RIA) and backfill reimbursement is not available at this time. Visit the RIA website to learn more and register.
What Participants Are Saying
“One thing I learned today that I’m excited to use in my long-term care home is the idea that people are still living with dementia—not just declining. This shift in thinking helped me realize that our role as care partners is to support them in living meaningful, joyful lives every day, despite the challenges of dementia.”
“Residents will feel more respected, understood, and valued as individuals. I believe they will show more comfort and trust during care, and there will be stronger emotional connections between residents and team members. I also expect to see fewer signs of distress and more moments of joy and engagement, because their emotional, spiritual, and cultural needs will be supported.“
“The facilitators were welcoming, respectful, and created a safe space for learning and sharing. They made the content feel relevant to real-world care situations and encouraged open discussion.”